[ OP-ED COLUMN ]

Bill to Fete Flagler Flying Throug

Published: Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 12:12 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 12:12 a.m.

A bill that would allow placement of a bronze statue of railroad baron Henry Flagler on the Capitol grounds sailed through a Senate committee in a unanimous vote last week.

It wouldn't have surprised Flagler who knew a thing or two about getting a bill passed by the Florida Legislature.

The intent of the legislation is to authorize a statue that will be paid for privately to honor one of Florida's pivotal and pioneering proponents.

Sen. Joseph Abruzzo, D-Wellington, cited the list of Flagler's many accomplishments in Florida in convincing the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee to endorse the legislation (SB 250).

"Henry Flagler invested himself in the development of Florida," Abruzzo said. "He helped invent modern Florida. The transportation infrastructure, the tourism industry and also agriculture that he established remain even today."

A staff analysis of the bill added to Flagler's resume, noting the co-founder of Standard Oil built major hotels throughout the state and extended the railroad from Jacksonville to Key West — including the construction of the "Over-Sea" railroad in the Keys, which "was considered the most ambitious engineering feat ever undertaken by a private citizen."

But as a powerful and wealthy businessman, Flagler also sparked a few controversies in his day. And the scene of one his most controversial moves occurred in the same legislative body that is now pondering the approval of his bronze image.

Based on research done by Cinnamon Bair for a 2010 article in The Ledger, here's what happened:

Flagler's wife, Ida Alice, was diagnosed with a chronic mental illness. Flagler used his considerable resources to provide her with the best of care, eventually sending her to a New York mental hospital in 1895. And by most accounts, she was well treated, including having her furniture relocated to the hospital.

But Flagler decided he wanted to end the marriage. His problem was that neither Florida nor New York allowed a divorce on the grounds of mental illness. A bill, changing the divorce laws, was introduced in the Florida Senate on April 9, 1901. It won quick approval and was signed into law by the governor on April 25.

The law allowed the 72-year-old Florida icon to marry a 33-year-old woman shortly after it took effect.

Editorial writers were not amused.

"For Florida has a monstrous law, and a barbarous one," the Brunswick, Ga., Times railed in a June 1901 editorial. "It is opposed to all sentiment and decency. It was made for one man ... to whom sentiment has proved to be an idle jest. This law, which makes insanity a crime, was railroaded through the Legislature."

Despite the outcry, Flagler's legislative maneuvering could be viewed as another example of his ability to accomplish what he wanted. The kicker is this: The Legislature repealed the law in 1905. And as Bair reported, it is believed that Henry Flagler is the only one who ever used what became known as "Flagler's Divorce Law."

WINNER OF THE WEEK

Andy Gardiner. The Orlando Republican state senator was formally designated by the GOP caucus as the next Senate president following the 2014 general election. Gardiner will preside over the Senate in the 2015 and 2016 sessions.

LOSER OF THE WEEK

Adam Hollingsworth. Gov. Rick Scott's chief of staff remained under fire for past incidents of overstating his academic qualifications. As first reported by Tampa Bay Times and The Miami Herald, Hollingsworth had claimed a college degree before actually obtaining one in 2009. Scott has shown no indication that he is parting ways with his aide, saying Hollingsworth is "doing a great job."

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Restricting recreational activities is a far cry from restricting a fundamental, constitutional right to keep and bear arms for self-defense," state appellate Judge Clay Roberts wrote in an opinion blocking state universities from regulating guns on their campuses.

<p>A bill that would allow placement of a bronze statue of railroad baron Henry Flagler on the Capitol grounds sailed through a Senate committee in a unanimous vote last week.</p><p>It wouldn't have surprised Flagler who knew a thing or two about getting a bill passed by the Florida Legislature.</p><p>The intent of the legislation is to authorize a statue that will be paid for privately to honor one of Florida's pivotal and pioneering proponents.</p><p>Sen. Joseph Abruzzo, D-Wellington, cited the list of Flagler's many accomplishments in Florida in convincing the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee to endorse the legislation (SB 250).</p><p>"Henry Flagler invested himself in the development of Florida," Abruzzo said. "He helped invent modern Florida. The transportation infrastructure, the tourism industry and also agriculture that he established remain even today."</p><p>A staff analysis of the bill added to Flagler's resume, noting the co-founder of Standard Oil built major hotels throughout the state and extended the railroad from Jacksonville to Key West — including the construction of the "Over-Sea" railroad in the Keys, which "was considered the most ambitious engineering feat ever undertaken by a private citizen."</p><p>But as a powerful and wealthy businessman, Flagler also sparked a few controversies in his day. And the scene of one his most controversial moves occurred in the same legislative body that is now pondering the approval of his bronze image.</p><p>Based on research done by Cinnamon Bair for a 2010 article in The Ledger, here's what happened:</p><p>Flagler's wife, Ida Alice, was diagnosed with a chronic mental illness. Flagler used his considerable resources to provide her with the best of care, eventually sending her to a New York mental hospital in 1895. And by most accounts, she was well treated, including having her furniture relocated to the hospital.</p><p>But Flagler decided he wanted to end the marriage. His problem was that neither Florida nor New York allowed a divorce on the grounds of mental illness. A bill, changing the divorce laws, was introduced in the Florida Senate on April 9, 1901. It won quick approval and was signed into law by the governor on April 25.</p><p>The law allowed the 72-year-old Florida icon to marry a 33-year-old woman shortly after it took effect.</p><p>Editorial writers were not amused.</p><p>"For Florida has a monstrous law, and a barbarous one," the Brunswick, Ga., Times railed in a June 1901 editorial. "It is opposed to all sentiment and decency. It was made for one man ... to whom sentiment has proved to be an idle jest. This law, which makes insanity a crime, was railroaded through the Legislature."</p><p>Despite the outcry, Flagler's legislative maneuvering could be viewed as another example of his ability to accomplish what he wanted. The kicker is this: The Legislature repealed the law in 1905. And as Bair reported, it is believed that Henry Flagler is the only one who ever used what became known as "Flagler's Divorce Law."</p><p>WINNER OF THE WEEK</p><p>Andy Gardiner. The Orlando Republican state senator was formally designated by the GOP caucus as the next Senate president following the 2014 general election. Gardiner will preside over the Senate in the 2015 and 2016 sessions.</p><p>LOSER OF THE WEEK</p><p>Adam Hollingsworth. Gov. Rick Scott's chief of staff remained under fire for past incidents of overstating his academic qualifications. As first reported by Tampa Bay Times and The Miami Herald, Hollingsworth had claimed a college degree before actually obtaining one in 2009. Scott has shown no indication that he is parting ways with his aide, saying Hollingsworth is "doing a great job."</p><p>QUOTE OF THE WEEK</p><p>"Restricting recreational activities is a far cry from restricting a fundamental, constitutional right to keep and bear arms for self-defense," state appellate Judge Clay Roberts wrote in an opinion blocking state universities from regulating guns on their campuses.</p>